Atomic Stability, Electronegativity, and Chemical Bonding

Atomic Stability

Achieved when an atom's outermost electron shell contains no vacancies or unfilled electron positions.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms overlap their outer electron shells to share electrons, where each bond consists of $2\text{ shared electrons}$.

Methane ($CH_4$) Bonding

A nonpolar covalent molecule formed by one carbon atom with $4\text{ vacancies}$ and four hydrogen atoms each with $1\text{ vacancy}$, where electrons are shared equally.

Electronegativity

A property representing how strongly an individual atom attracts shared electrons toward itself.

Polar Covalent Bond

A chemical bond where shared electrons are pulled closer to one atom due to its stronger attraction, as seen in a water molecule ($H_2O$).

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond driven by substantial differences in electronegativity, leading to complete electron shifts rather than equal sharing, such as in sodium chloride ($NaCl$).